Is anyone else’s DC opting for the most expensive “premium” halls?

[badboss2020]

We have submitted the application for DD to go into halls. For various reasons she has applied for the most expensive premium en suite type of halls. There are a lot of this type of room so I assume a lot of people do go for them, but now she’s paranoid that she’s going to be seen as rich/posh/tory (whatever that actually means!).
There is always a lot of talk about the cheapest options at various unis but the other end doesn’t get mentioned much.
We aren’t wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, it’s only for a year so we felt like she should have a chance in the nicest environment?!

Must vary from year to year as DC was there and didn’t think it was particularly posho / Tory leaning.

We're starting to think about this choice for DC in a few years. Not bothered about en suite but due to food allergy a private kitchen would be preferable. I think catered halls would not be possible or at least a risk. For the safety aspect we'd pay but I'd be worried about isolation and hiw they would socialise. On the other hand DC is a big fan of joining clubs and activities so maybe just find friends that way.

Many students have allergies and food issues but share kitchens. Dd is coeliac and shares with 12 this year and 6 next. Has her own fridge in her room due to DSA support and her flatmates have all been really good about not using her utensils. Most unis can help you sort this so dont worry.

Seeing posts like this makes me grateful DD got no choice whatsoever. She got accommodation allocated by her college based on she had no medical needs and got a random allocation of what the second and third years didn’t want, no ensuite, two showers amongst 12 students, clanking heating, single bed. She didn’t know what she was getting until two weeks before she turned up. Similarly the rich foreign students got treated the same and also had no choice in first year. Upside is DD got to choose a nicer room in her final year and only had to pay 30 weeks a year every year.

My DS was in fairly cheap halls at a uni that has a reputation for having some posh students and I think he prob did better socially in the cheaper halls he was in! He’s not very money oriented and we’re not posh at all although we’re reasonably financially comfortable. Look to see what halls have a ‘Tory’ reputation at the uni - loads online about this sort of thing.

To add, one of DS’s best friends is an international student, but the 3(!) in his first year flat didn’t mix with the homegrown ones, so it can vary.

@PettsWoodParadise Yes but Oxbridge is highly subsidised and in other ways they are pampered! College rooms for 3 years! 30 weeks?!! What luxury! However students are far too picky and worry far too much. It’s only 1 year for most and nearly everyone does make friends.

@badboss2020 I wasn't aware they could choose halls yet ?

@Blueskiesnotgrey has he accepted his offer ?
My DD also has a letter for medical need what does she need to do please

It varies from uni to uni. Some allow you to state a preference before exams if you have firmed. Or the OP's DC may be on a gap year with grades in hand and a firm offer, when it is also not unusual to be able to say what you want.

There are very few en suites at my DD’s uni (Durham), in fact in some colleges high chance of sharing a bedroom let alone a bathroom! She knew a few girls, particularly some international students, who couldn’t bear the thought of that so opted for private student halls with en suites, all costing £200-300, way out of her budget. My DD is very frugal and had opted for cheap but further out housing for her third year, paying half the rent she is now in her house share (£169/week plus £10/week bills) for £80/week but a 40 minute walk. Upside is I don’t give her any money at all, in fact other than her phone she is self sufficient, partly from loans, bursary and work last summer. She hates sharing, but even though I would sub her if she wanted en suite room she wouldn’t take it.
As for being considered posh? I do hear that the more expensive rooms at unis are taken by a lot of international students, which by virtue of the tuition they are charged are probably wealthy, and there may be some envy but I don’t think this is something that affects them day to day. It’s not something my DD talks about (that friend X has a £200 plus room etc). She doesn’t care, nor does she care if people know she’s got a cheap room. It’s not really something they talk about (at Durham it’s more about which college you are).

What’s available depends on uni. Older unis often have quite a bit of older accom. It is often catered and has shared bathrooms. But people still opt for those unis and those halls because the unis are often more prestigious and the original halls in the best locations. These things trump other stuff.

I agree that often those who can’t consider a shared bathroom either have additional needs or pretty limited life experience, which makes a shared bathroom impractical or sound v scary. Most people who share find it’s not actually a big deal. But if you’re a 17 year old thinking about it and not surprisingly lived at home, many will find the idea a bit daunting. Parental attitude plays a big role - if you think it sounds awful, they probably will too. I suspect families with a history of uni - most of wh will have had shared bathrooms 30+ years ago, are less phased by it.

Bear in mind that en-suites can add substantially to weekly cost and if the rent is more than 30 weeks a year, it can be thousands more.

The irony is that often those on full maintenance loans are more likely to pick the en-suites - without this, they might manage without a full loan or be able to pay some back at the end of their studies or need to work less as students without it.

My input into this, is that at unis with catered accom (proper catered provision in the halls - not a central hub) it’s hugely worth considering. These things benefits are enormous. Yes, you have to eat within a window of serving time, but the chance to mix more with more than just a flat of people and be forced out of your meal for good is a massive, underestimated benefit.

Lots of student self caters flats are fairly small. People can find great bonds but the chance ‘your people’ are in that 6 or 8 seems small. Too many reports of awkward flats and people cooking and taking their meal back to their room to eat don’t sound good at all. I know catered halls don’t get built so much today but that’s really about cost. If it’s available, it can be a massive benefit …but again young people can’t always see ahead to what those benefits might be.

I agree @WombatChocolate about the social benefits of catered halls (I was in one in my first year at uni) so they are definitely worth considering, but I do think the cost can be prohibitive.

DS1 was likely at one point to be offered a catered hall and that would have put real financial pressure on us tbh. This is a few years ago and the cost would have been £7k min (and not all included lunch so there was that to find ££ for) compared with his SC hall cost of about £4k. He was able to cater for himself for about £35 pw so the costs were more manageable for us (min loan but HH income right at the bottom of the cut-off).

Agree tho that if there is the ££ available, then a catered hall with shared bathroom may well be a better bet than a SC hall with en-suite (possibly for a similar price).

@WombatChocolateWhst do these precious dc do in swimming pool changing rooms? You don’t get an entirely private space in your cosies? Surely dc can move around accommodation in sliders and a robe or dressing gown to get to a bathroom? No one is offering communal showers!